Flexible in its content, the course has been designed so that participating agencies can decide upon the exact structure of the training programme for their employees, in liaison with The MRS. Those agencies which adopt the scheme benefit from being able to implement a tailor-made training programme. The agencies, appointed by The MRS as accredited centres, will oversee their graduates' completion of the programme, which involves students undertaking a combination of in-house and, where necessary, external training, maintaining a portfolio of work and passing two examinations over the three-year period. The pilot initiative has been welcomed by a number of the UK's leading agencies, including NOP, Ipsos RSL, BMRB, Millward Brown, RS Consulting, Sample Surveys and Research International. The new scheme also promises a number of significant benefits for the trainees. In addition to receiving extensive and high-quality training across a broad spectrum of work-related courses, MRS support gives the diploma international recognition. Students who achieve the high standards demanded for the qualification will also be eligible for automatic membership of The MRS. According to Samantha Driscoll, Qualifications and Vocational Development Co-ordinator, "The Graduate Development Scheme is an exciting initiative for The Market Research Society. Market Research is an increasingly popular career choice for graduates, but until now there has been no cross-industry training standard. This diploma aims to make comprehensive training a reality for everyone by providing agencies with an industry-recognised training scheme. Already many agencies have expressed an interest in taking part in the scheme and we hope to see that figure grow still further by the time the diploma is launched fully in January 2001."